Students Produce Music Showcase at Lounge Ax May 14

College students who seek a career in the music business need to develop talent not just as artists but also as entrepreneurs. That's the message of DePaul University's Music and Business Program, one of a growing number of university music school programs that stress the need for musicians to develop business acumen.

"People who are successful in music have business aptitude," said David Pistrui, director of the program. "To make it in the music business, you need to know about personal finance, business plan development, marketing and accounting. And you need to develop entrepreneurial skills because most people in music are self-employed."

Pistrui knows firsthand how important business knowledge is for musicians. He is the lead singer and a guitarist for the band "Terminal White" and owner of White Records, the first independent record label ever launched in Romania. The band's latest CD, Tijuana Donkey Show, gets local air play on Chicago rock stations' independent music shows. One of the band's singles is in the top10 of the Romanian music charts. Pistrui, who holds degrees in business and liberal studies and will soon earn a doctoral degree in entrepreneurship, spends half the year teaching at DePaul and the other half in Europe working in the music business.

Pistrui joined DePaul's School of Music faculty last spring and has expanded the course offerings of the school's decade-old program which leads to a "bachelor of music with elective study in business" degree .

Representing a collaboration between DePaul's School of Music and College of Commerce, the program combines music and liberal arts studies with general business courses that emphasize entrepreneurship. Students are required to take the same core business classes in accounting, economics, management and marketing as business majors. Specialized courses on "The Business of Music," "Marketing for Performing Arts," "Legal Issues in Music," "Topics in the Business of Music: Career Development," and music technology study also are required.

DePaul is one of more than 33 universities across the country to offer four-year music business undergraduate degree, and the number of programs is growing, according to the Music and Entertainment Industry Education Association.

Students are strongly encouraged to get involved in Chicago's vibrant music and entertainment scene through event organization, performance, internships and volunteerism. For example, DePaul's music business students annually organize, promote and manage a public music showcase at a local venue.

This year's DePaul music fest will be held at 9 p.m. on May 14 at Lounge Ax, 2438 N. Lincoln Ave. The event will feature three rock bands--Reign Dog, Colfax Avenue, and Falstaff, a jazz band called 500 West, and classical music. ($6.00 Cover. Call 773/325-4472 for information).

"The music fest gives students a chance to negotiate with club owners and bands, deal with the press, make a little money and show that they can successfully manage a music event," Pistrui said. Last year's Music Fest featured four bands and attracted 300 people.

Pistrui said students who seek employment in the $340-billion entertainment industry face a wide range of opportunity if they develop creativity, enterprise and an understanding of their audience -- three areas of expertise that are emphasized in the program.

After graduation, students may pursue arts management or marketing jobs with companies in the mega-entertainment industry, middle-sized businesses such as music equipment manufacturers or small, entrepreneurial firms. They also are equipped to proceed with graduate studies in music or business.

The majority of people who enter the music business are self-employed as music entrepreneurs, and for them the business background is essential, Pistrui said. They may work as free-lance performers for local ensembles, music teachers who give private lessons, session players, or self-employed artists. Some may start their own arts marketing or management firms.

That's what DePaul music business senior Nicole Polley wants to do. Polley, an accomplished pianist who has interned with Polygram, the Grant Park Music Festival and Jam Productions, said her goal is to start her own urban music marketing company to promote hip-hop and R&B artists. "The business classes were very helpful for what I want to do, particularly the entrepreneur in the arts course," she said. "I received solid business training and the music courses helped my musicianship."

Her classmate, senior Kani Davis, 22, plans to start her own business, too, as a legal consultant for musicians. Davis, who also studied voice performance, has held four internships in the music business and works part-time as a college representative for BMI, recruiting songwriters to affiliate with BMI and educating them on copyright protection for their work.

"It's important for musicians and songwriters to know their rights," said Davis. "They can be taken advantage of with contracts so easily. I hope to be one of the people they can trust to get them good contracts."